Flow distributor for heat transfer device

ABSTRACT

A heat transfer device includes a receptacle having a number of partitions disposed for forming a number of fluid flowing passages within the receptacle, an inlet and a path formed in one side and communicating with the inlet and the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle, and a distributor having a tubular member engaged into the inlet and the path of the receptacle and having a number of orifices formed along the tubular member and aligned with the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle for guiding the fluid to evenly flow through the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle respectively. The distributor may include a manifold attached to the tubular member for bypassing the fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat transfer device, and more particularly to a heat transfer device including a distributor for evenly distributing the fluid flowing and for allowing the temperature of the fluid to be evenly distributed and heat exchanged within the receptacle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical heat transfer devices may comprise a number of heat conductive plates or boards disposed or arranged side by side with each other or superposed with each other for forming one or more fluid flowing passages and for allowing two or more air or fluids to be heat exchanged with each other.

For example, the International Patent Application No. PCT/SE92/00254 or the International Patent Publication No. 92/18821 to Gudmundsson discloses one of the typical heat transfer devices comprising a number of heat conductive plates or boards disposed or superposed with each other for forming two helical fluid flowing passages and for allowing two or more air or fluids to be heat exchanged with each other.

However, the typical heat transfer devices have no fluid distributing devices for evenly distributing the fluid flowing and for allowing the fluid to be evenly or suitably distributed and heat exchanged.

The other typical heat transfer devices may comprise a number of heat conductive and planar plates or boards disposed side by side with each other for guiding two or more air or fluids to flow through two or more helical fluid flowing passages and for allowing the fluids to be evenly or suitably heat exchanged with each other. However, the typical heat transfer devices also have no fluid distributing devices for evenly distributing the fluid flowing and for allowing the fluid to be evenly or suitably distributed and heat exchanged.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional heat transfer devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a heat transfer device including a distributor for evenly distributing the fluid flowing and for allowing the temperature of the fluid to be evenly distributed and heat exchanged within the receptacle.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a heat transfer device comprising a receptacle including a number of partitions disposed therein for forming a number of fluid flowing passages within the receptacle, and including an inlet provided in a first side thereof and a path formed in the first side thereof and formed across the partitions and communicating with the inlet and the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle, and including an outlet provided in a second side thereof, and a distributor including a tubular member engaged into the inlet and the path of the receptacle, and the tubular member including a first end for receiving a fluid and a second end engaged in the receptacle, and a number of orifices formed along the tubular member and aligned with the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle respectively for guiding the fluid to evenly flow through the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle and for allowing the temperature of the fluid to be evenly distributed and heat exchanged within the receptacle.

The partitions of the receptacle are preferably arranged parallel to each other. The receptacle includes a pathway formed in the second side thereof and formed across the partitions and communicating with the outlet and the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle.

The orifices of the tubular member are preferably faced toward the fluid flowing passages of the receptacle respectively. The first end of the tubular member is preferably an open end, and the second end of the tubular member is preferably a closed end.

The distributor includes a manifold attached to the tubular member, and the manifold includes a first end coupled to the tubular member at a position located closer to the second end of the tubular member for allowing a portion of the fluid to bypass and to flow toward the second end of the tubular member without flowing through the orifices that are located closer to the first end of the tubular member.

The manifold includes a second end coupled to the tubular member at a position located closer to the first end of the tubular member. The manifold is preferably arranged parallel to the tubular member.

The distributor includes a slit formed in the tubular member for allowing a portion of the fluid to flow out through the slit of the tubular member and to flow toward the second end of the tubular member without flowing through the orifices that are located closer to the first end of the tubular member.

The slit of the tubular member is preferably formed along the tubular member and located closer to the second end of the tubular member.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial plan schematic view of a heat transfer device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan and exploded view of the heat transfer device;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating a portion of the fluid distributor of the heat transfer device;

FIG. 4 is a chart or plan schematic view illustrating the testing results conducted with the heat transfer device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan schematic view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the further arrangement of the heat transfer device;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan schematic view similar to FIGS. 1 and 5, illustrating the other arrangement or application of the heat transfer device; and

FIG. 7 is a chart or plan schematic view illustrating the testing results conducted with the heat transfer device as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a heat transfer device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a receptacle 10 including a number of spacers or partitions 11 disposed therein and preferably arranged parallel to each other for forming a number of fluid flowing passages 12 within the receptacle 10 and arranged for allowing the air or fluid or other media to evenly flow through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 and for allowing the air or fluid or other media to be evenly heat exchanged with the other heat media that flowing outside the receptacle 10 or that flowing through the other fluid flowing passages (not shown) inside the receptacle 10.

The receptacle 10 includes an entrance or inlet 13 formed or provided in one end or lower portion or one or first side 14 thereof and selectively coupled to a water or air or fluid or heat media reservoir (not shown) for receiving the water or air or fluid or heat media from the reservoir, and a conduit or path 15 also formed or provided in the one or first side 14 thereof and formed through or across the partitions 11 and/or the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 and communicating with the inlet 13 and the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 for allowing the air or fluid or other media from the inlet 13 to flow into or through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10.

The receptacle 10 further includes an exit or outlet 16 formed or provided in the other end or upper portion or second side 17 thereof and coupled to a facility (not shown) which may receive the heat exchanged water or air or fluid or heat media from the receptacle 10, and a conduit or pathway 18 also formed or provided in the other or second side 17 thereof and formed through or across the partitions 11 and/or the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 and communicating with the outlet 16 and the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 for allowing the heat exchanged air or fluid or other media to flow from the fluid flowing passages 12 into or through the pathway 18 and then to flow out or through the outlet 16 of the receptacle 10.

The heat transfer device 1 further includes a distributor 2 formed by such as a tubular member 20, or the distributor 2 includes a tubular member 20 for engaging into the inlet 13 and the path 15 of the receptacle 10, and the tubular member 20 includes an open or first end 21 for coupling to a water or air or fluid or heat media reservoir (not shown) and for receiving the water or air or fluid or heat media from the reservoir, and a closed or second end 22 engaged in the receptacle 10, and a number of orifices 23 formed along the tubular member 20 and facing toward or aligned with the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 respectively for guiding the water or air or fluid or heat media to evenly flow through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10.

It is to be noted that, without the tubular member 20 of the distributor 2, the heat media or fluid flowing into the inlet 13 of the receptacle 10 may mostly flow through the fluid flowing passages 12 that are located closer to the inlet 13 of the receptacle 10, and less heat media or fluid may flow through the fluid flowing passages 12 that are located closer to the outlet 16 and distal to the inlet 13 of the receptacle 10, due to the uneven fluid pressure of the heat media or fluid flowing into the inlet 13 of the receptacle 10. The provision and the engagement of the tubular member 20 of the distributor 2 into the inlet 13 and the path 15 of the receptacle 10 may guide the water or air or fluid or heat media to evenly flow through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10 to allow the temperature of the fluid to be evenly distributed and heat exchanged within the receptacle 10.

The distributor 2 of the heat transfer device 1 may further include a bypass or manifold 25 attached to the tubular member 20 and preferably arranged parallel to the tubular member 20, and the manifold 25 includes one or first end 26 for coupling to the tubular member 20 at the position located closer to the closed end 22 of the tubular member 20, and the other or second end 27 for coupling to the tubular member 20 at the position located closer to the open end 21 of the tubular member 20, and for allowing a portion of the water or air or fluid or heat media to bypass and to flow toward the closed end 22 without flowing through the orifices 23 that are located closer to the open end 21 of the tubular member 20 and thus for allowing the water or air or fluid or heat media to be more evenly flown through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tubular member 20 of the distributor 2 may further include a slit 28 formed along the tubular member 20 and located closer to the closed end 22 of the tubular member 20 for allowing another portion of the water or air or fluid or heat media to permeate or to flow out of the slit 28 of the tubular member 20 without flowing through the orifices 23 that are located closer to the open end 21 of the tubular member 20 and thus for allowing the water or air or fluid or heat media further to be more evenly flown through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the manifold 25 may include an open other end 29 for coupling to the water or air or fluid or heat media reservoir (not shown) and also for receiving the water or air or fluid or heat media from the reservoir.

As shown in FIG. 4, illustrated are the testing results conducted with the heat transfer device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the lateral axis represents the location of the receptacle 10 from the inlet 13 deeply into the path 15 of the receptacle 10 where is distal to the inlet 13 of the receptacle 10, and the vertical axis represents the temperature of the fluid at the various locations of the receptacle 10. The squares represent the temperature of the fluid at the inlet 13 and/or at the path 15 of the receptacle 10, and the triangles represent the temperature of the fluid at the outlet 16 and/or at the pathway 18 of the receptacle 10, and the circles represent the temperature of the fluid at the middle or intermediate portion between the inlet 13 and the path 15 and the outlet 16 and the pathway 18 of the receptacle 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the temperature of the fluid may be evenly distributed and heat exchanged within the receptacle 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, further alternatively, the tubular member 20 of the distributor 2 may include no manifold attached to the tubular member 20 and the water or air or fluid or heat media may also be guided to evenly flow through the fluid flowing passages 12 of the receptacle 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, illustrated are the testing results conducted with the heat transfer device as shown in FIG. 6, in which the lateral axis also represents the location of the receptacle 10 from the inlet 13 deeply into the path 15 of the receptacle 10, and the vertical axis also represents the temperature of the fluid at the various locations of the receptacle 10, and the squares also represent the temperature of the fluid at the inlet 13 and/or at the path 15 of the receptacle 10, and the triangles also represent the temperature of the fluid at the outlet 16 and/or at the pathway 18 of the receptacle 10, and the circles also represent the temperature of the fluid at the middle or intermediate portion between the inlet 13 and the path 15 and the outlet 16 and the pathway 18 of the receptacle 10.

Accordingly, the heat transfer device in accordance with the present invention includes a distributor for evenly distributing the fluid flowing and for allowing the temperature of the fluid to be evenly distributed and heat exchanged within the receptacle.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A heat transfer device comprising: a receptacle including a plurality of partitions disposed therein for forming a plurality of fluid flowing passages within said receptacle, and including an inlet provided in a first side thereof and a path formed in said first side thereof and formed across said partitions and communicating with said inlet and said fluid flowing passages of said receptacle, and including an outlet provided in a second side thereof, and a distributor including a tubular member engaged into said inlet and said path of said receptacle, and said tubular member including a first end for receiving a fluid and a second end engaged in said receptacle, and a plurality of orifices formed along said tubular member and aligned with said fluid flowing passages of said receptacle respectively for guiding the fluid to evenly flow through said fluid flowing passages of said receptacle.
 2. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said partitions of said receptacle are arranged parallel to each other.
 3. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle includes a pathway formed in said second side thereof and formed across said partitions and communicating with said outlet and said fluid flowing passages of said receptacle.
 4. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said orifices of said tubular member are faced toward said fluid flowing passages of said receptacle respectively.
 5. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first end of said tubular member is an open end.
 6. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said tubular member is a closed end.
 7. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distributor includes a manifold attached to said tubular member, and said manifold includes a first end coupled to said tubular member at a position located closer to said second end of said tubular member for allowing a portion of the fluid to bypass and to flow toward said second end of said tubular member without flowing through said orifices that are located closer to said first end of said tubular member.
 8. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said manifold includes a second end coupled to said tubular member at a position located closer to said first end of said tubular member.
 9. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said manifold is parallel to said tubular member.
 10. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distributor includes a slit formed in said tubular member for allowing a portion of the fluid to flow out through said slit of said tubular member and to flow toward said second end of said tubular member without flowing through said orifices that are located closer to said first end of said tubular member.
 11. The heat transfer device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said slit of said tubular member is formed along said tubular member and located closer to said second end of said tubular member. 